All set to resume non-contact activities in the state

Sports complexes, halls and fitness centres can reopen, says Soon.

PENANG will open up and allow various non-contact sports and recreational activities starting Monday.

State youth and sports committee chairman Soon Lip Chee said the sports and recreational activities including those involving groups would be allowed as long as social distancing is adhered to.

“Among the non-contact activities allowed are individual sports such as badminton, running, weightlifting and others.

“Motorsports such as track day events, extreme sports such as parachuting, skateboarding and paramotoring as well as recreational sports such as aerobics and yoga will be allowed, ” he said in a statement on Wednesday.

He, however, noted that motorsport competitions and races were still prohibited to avoid mass gathering of people.

“Other sports that remain prohibited are any forms of events which involve body contact, combat or team play, including watersports in swimming pools.

“Those who wish to train their teams must practise social distancing of between three and five metres among each individual.

“Among those sports allowed for training without body contact are soccer, hockey, rugby, basketball, netball and handball.

“Combat sports such as karate, taekwondo and silat are allowed for the purpose of practice without body contact, ” he said.

Soon added that sports complexes and indoor halls such as gyms, badminton courts, multipurpose sporting halls, snooker centres, bowling alleys and other sporting studios and fitness centres would be allowed to resume too.

The reopening includes various public sport and recreational complexes such as the Balik Pulau Sports Complex, Bertam Sports Complex, Sony Sports Complex in Seberang Jaya, Jalan Betek Sports Complex and Taman Jajar in Jalan York.

Visitors will be allowed to enter dams under Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) such as Taman Bukit Dumbar, Ayer Itam Dam and Teluk Bahang Dam when they reopen their gates on Monday.

Since Wednesday, parks and forest reserves under Penang Forestry Department such as Bukit Panchor State Park, Teluk Bahang Forest Reserve, Cherok To’kun Forest Reserve, Air Hitam Dalam Educational Forest and Juru Forest Reserve have reopened, except National Park in Teluk Bahang and all swimming pools.

Camping, group picnic and bathing activities in ponds and rivers are still prohibited.